E. Fernández-Ondoño

Study of Zn, Cu and Pb content in plants and contaminated soils in Sardinia

Trace elements in soils exist as components of several different fractions. We have analyzed the correlation between total and extractable (EDTA, calcium chloride and deionized water) Zn, Pb and Cu concentrations in soils and the concentration of these elements in plant leaves. Soil and plant samples have been taken from Sulcis-Iglesiente (Sardinia), an area rich in mining tailings. This has made that the concentrations of the trace element under study in soils were varied. Three plants have been studied: Dittrichia viscosa, Cistus salviifolius, and Euphorbia pithyusa subsp. cupanii. Soil samples beneath each of them at depths of 0–30 and 30–60 cm have been considered. The highest concentration of trace elements in the leaves of the studied species has been found for Zn. The calcium carbonate content and the crystalline and amorphous forms of iron in the soil have determined the concentration of metal in plant leaves. The soil concentrations that have been found with the extraction methods are uncorrelated with Pb and Cu concentrations in plants, but Zn is correlated with the fraction extracted with EDTA and calcium chloride. The concentrations of trace metals in plants are most closely related to the soil contents of CaCO3, electrical conductivity, Feox, and Fedc.

Study of the nutritional dynamic in olive leaves: periods of analytical stability

The aim of this study was to establish the evolution curves of macro- and micro-nutrients in olive leaves and the periods of time in which they are statistically stable and can be considered suitable for a nutritional diagnosis. The study was carried out in two farms of the province of Jaen (Andalucia, Southern Spain), with olive trees of the Picual variety, under an irrigation regime and no nutritional deficiencies over the entire year. The evolution curves of each nutrient had great similarities when comparing between farms and between periods. Only in some periods the farm “Poco Humo” had higher concentrations, probably due to the most favorable edaphic characteristics of this farm. Nitrogen and phosphorus showed minimum concentrations when the leaves were young and when they were one year old, and maximum concentrations during the winter. Potassium and boron showed higher concentrations when the leaves were young, and the concentrations decreased throughout the first year of life. Concentrations of calcium, magnesium and manganese had the opposite behavior: these accumulated in leaf until reaching maximum values in winter and then remained stable, with some oscillations but without statistically significant differences. No changes were observed in the zinc concentrations in the sampled periods. Periods of at least two consecutive months without statistically significant differences were found during the winter period for all elements except nitrogen. Analytical stability was observed from the second fortnight of May till the first fortnight of August for all elements except phosphorus and boron.

Land degradation and sand dynamics in a steppe region (Nâama, south-western Algeria)

Land degradation is one of the most important environmental threats facing the international community. In North Africa, many semiarid and arid regions are suffering significant land degradation, which can be an impediment to sustainable development. Therefore; land degradation is monitored in a regional context for a better understanding of its causes and consequences. One of the main consequences is a notable increase in sand encroachment with negative environmental implications. For this reason, the dynamics of sands between south-eastern Morocco and the wilaya of Nâama, south-western Algeria, was studied. Sand samples gathered from six distinctive areas were subjected to physicochemical, colorimetric (redness index), morphoscopic (circularity), and geochemical analysis, and studied statistically using an analysis of variance (ANOVA), wind direction data, ternary plots and a hierarchical cluster of trace elements (K, Rb, Fe, Ti, Ca and Sr). In all areas, a clear dominance of the sand fraction appeared showing percentages ranging from 89 to 96%. Sampled areas were all carbonated, and the pH was alkaline, with close values ranging from 8.4 to 9. The mean circularity values ranged from 0.67 in Merzouga (Morocco) to 0.80 in El Aguer (Algeria). The lowest value of the redness index was noted in Merzouga with a mean value of 4. The Algerian areas showed an almost similar redness index with a value of 6 but the highest value was noted in Saadana with a value of 11. Geochemical approaches, based on ternary plots and dendrogram cluster indicating the abundance of major elements (Fe, Ca and K), were used as indicators of wind transport. Results suggested the existence of a Regional Wind Action System (RWAS) implicated in the transport of sand from south-eastern Morocco and its redistribution towards south-western Algeria. Merzouga was connected to all areas but particularly to nearby Saadana and Kasdir in the Algerian territory.